Gun Laws And 2a
Minnesota Gun-Rights Group Threatens Lawsuit as Edina Drafts Local Firearms Ordinance
Minnesota Gun-Rights Group Threatens Lawsuit as Edina Drafts Local Firearms Ordinance
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Edina, Minnesota
Edina, Minn. November 13, 2025 The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has warned that it will file an immediate lawsuit against the City of Edina if the city enacts a proposed local firearms ordinance. The advocacy group claims the potential legislation would violate state law that reserves gun regulation to the Minnesota Legislature. This warning follows the Edina City Councils directive on October 22, instructing city staff to draft local gun-violence prevention measures and expressing a desire for the state lawmakers to repeal Minnesotas firearms preemption statute. Council members emphasized their frustration over the restraints that state law places on local governments attempting to impose their own regulations regarding firearms. Council members expressed their determination during meetings, with one stating, Were going to make some racket about it and tell you we think its wrong. This clear intent signals a push for legislative change regarding local authority to regulate firearms independently. In recent public statements and social media posts, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus (MGOC) condemned the citys proposed actions as unlawful, citing the states preemption statute, which states that the legislature is the only authority that can regulate firearms, ammunition, or their components. According to Minnesota Statute 471.633, local jurisdictions can only regulate the discharge of firearms or pass ordinances that mirror state law. Legal authorities and advocacy groups from both sides of the gun control debate have noted this statute as the guiding regulation limiting municipal gun control efforts. Edina's initiative appears to be part of a larger trend among cities in Minnesota advocating for local control over gun regulations. Just a day prior to Edinas warning, the City of Saint Paul adopted a new gun-violence prevention ordinance banning specific assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines. However, proponents of that measure openly recognized its enforceability hinged on the Minnesota Legislature amending the existing preemption laws. In response, local gun-rights organizations swiftly filed suit to block the Saint Paul measure, indicating that the fight over local firearm authority is intensifying. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is a prominent Second Amendment advocacy organization known for its litigation efforts. In early 2025, the group successfully contested parts of the states 2024 omnibus gun law in Ramsey County District Court, where a judge deemed the binary trigger provision unconstitutional. Such legal victories serve to reinforce the MGOC's claim that any local firearm regulations that deviate from state law are invalid under current Minnesota statutes. Looking to the future, Edina officials have reportedly directed staff to draft a resolution urging the Legislature to amend or repeal 471.633. This would potentially empower cities to enact their own firearms regulations, providing a clearer path for efforts such as Edinas to gain traction. Staff members are scheduled to bring draft ordinance language back to the City Council for review and public comment in the coming weeks. Documents and records from City Council meetings suggest members regard this proposition as both a policy statement and a public appeal for stronger gun-safety legislation at the state level, even while acknowledging the likelihood of immediate legal challenges to any ordinance that exceeds state law. Legal experts assert that municipalities currently face limited avenues under existing laws. They can either seek to convince the Legislature to change or revoke 471.633; implement local measures that align with state provisions; or face potential litigation that could render their ordinances unenforceable while concurrently exposing taxpayers to legal costs. The rapid succession of recent city initiatives and the accompanying court challenges suggest that the debate surrounding local firearm regulation in Minnesota is on a collision course either toward judicial resolution or legislative reassessment. The staff's upcoming presentation of draft ordinance language to the Edina City Council represents a pivotal moment. Should the council adopt measures that stray from the guidelines established by the state, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus has reiterated its commitment to filing suit immediately. As this situation unfolds, the implications for local governance over firearms regulations in Minnesota remain significant.